If you want to enjoy a nocturnal foray into the city, Nouméa has plenty of options for you. With trendy bars, gastronomic restaurants, nightclubs and casinos, you certainly won’t be bored at night. Whether you’re with family or friends, Nouméa is a city with a vibrant night life. Perfect for sleepless travellers!

Traversed from the north to the south by a long high mountain range (the Chaîne Centrale), New Caledonia's mainland which is 450 km long and 50 km wide, is a paradise for hikers.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

The Shabadran terraces

If certain globe-trotters having experienced the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, Madagascar, Thailand, etc. place the Shabadran Terraces among their Top 5 most beautiful beaches in the world, that really says it all, doesn’t it?

Though a must-see, the Shabadran terraces take a little effort to reach!

The spectacular place

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Splendid viewpoints

To get to the site, visitors need to hike for around 2 and a half hours (and you still have to come back…). Though a little strenuous (watch out for the very sharp coral!), the route offers stunning viewpoints over the coral plateaus and the island’s cliffs.

A unique beach

When you finally reach the Shabadran terraces, you will understand why this unique white sandy beach has such an outstanding reputation! But do take care as the site’s topography can lead to quite rough backrush…